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Thread: Hard water? Slickness killer?

  1. #1
    Senior Member dshaves's Avatar
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    Default Hard water? Slickness killer?

    Can hard water be a lather slickness killer? I have been straight shaving for over 3 years and moved to a new spot less than a year ago. Here is what I usually do before a shave.

    I get home after a run
    take a shower
    leaving the water on my face
    get to the sink re apply more hot water
    load brush build lather on my face add more water the lather is a little runny but stable
    go to shave and wham the blade won’t plow through the beard hair feels tuggy
    wipe off lather add more water and a small amount of shave oil
    re apply lather
    we are now back on track smooth and keen shaving and I have no idea what just happened???

    Can’t understand what the heck is going on but the blade feels dull but isn’t proven by the shave oil. Maybe my skin type could be too tacky? So maybe the hard water is killing the slickness?

  2. #2
    Senior Member easyace's Avatar
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    Try with bottled water, just to see.

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    Senior Member Porl's Avatar
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    I thought perhaps it could be that you were still sweating from the run/hot shower and that could be causing the lack of slickness. I typically don't shave after a shower as I find my shaves are never as good for me personally, but I assume that this is your normal routine.

    It's a strange one for sure especially since you have been doing this for a good while now. Has anything else changed in the routine? Maybe it was just an off day, it happens. I tried a new soap a while back and had the same issues, I thought that the blade was dull, but had the same issues the next time that soap came round in my rotation. So many things can cause the shave to go south, and everyone is different.

    Good luck with this and I hope you get to the bottom of it.
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    Giveaway Guy Dieseld's Avatar
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    Hard water can do a lot to some soaps. You didn't mention if you have the same soap/cream you've been using, or if this is a different/new soap.

    There's a thread around here about hard water, let me see if I can find it

    EDIT: Just type in "hard water" in th esearch box in the upper right corner of the page. It will give you links to several threads about it here
    Last edited by Dieseld; 10-24-2017 at 11:11 AM.
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    Geezer (10-24-2017)

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    Senior Member dshaves's Avatar
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    When I first got into wet shaving with a DE I went crazy buying artisan shave soap, mainly because of the scents they offered. I never even once thought about slickness in a soap. So I have many different soaps I rotate but mostly from the same 4 or so artisans?

    It is entirely possible that I have been shaving sub par this whole time and yet still excited not knowing there is better because it is still that much better than shaving with a cartridge or electric shaver!

    Wanted to add I don't have any issues making a thick luxurious lather btw, it's just not slick...

    I will check out those threads thank you...
    Last edited by dshaves; 10-24-2017 at 02:08 PM.
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  7. #6
    Giveaway Guy Dieseld's Avatar
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    In my opinion, soaps that are good for shaving with a DE, may not be the best for SR shaving. Not saying that they are not good soaps, just not the best for every style of wet shaving.

    Take a look at Obie’s thread on top tier soaps. Anything in the first tier will give you a great shave with slickness and cushion
    Look sharp and smell nice for the ladies.~~~Benz
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  8. #7
    Senior Member dshaves's Avatar
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    I will definitely check that out Dieseld! I don't want to waste the several soap towers I have it the cabinet though. Since the shave oil worked so well and it is easy in my opinion to apply it would make sense to keep using it until it's time to buy some more soap stock?
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  9. #8
    Senior Member Porl's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dshaves View Post
    I will definitely check that out Dieseld! I don't want to waste the several soap towers I have it the cabinet though. Since the shave oil worked so well and it is easy in my opinion to apply it would make sense to keep using it until it's time to buy some more soap stock?
    Good thinking and with the money saved you could buy more razors!
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    Giveaway Guy Dieseld's Avatar
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    I won’t argue that in any way. If it works for you, then go for it!!
    There’s a lot of great stuff in that thread, so much it hurts the wallet
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  11. #10
    Senior Member dshaves's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Porl View Post
    Good thinking and with the money saved you could buy more razors!
    If I could like your post twice I would lol!!!

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